Maya Schersmith-Meikle      

Single Camera, Multi-Camera, Format and Narrative 

Introduction

single camera 

A single camera production is used for several of shorts. In the film industry the single camera is used for low budget, most common used in a music videos and used for prime time’s drama and advertisement.  A single camera is mostly use for short film, music video, advertisement or prime dramas. This is because that simple and cost less money whereas a multi-camera is more expensive and only used for long films with a big location. Multi-camera involves 3-5 cameras to film a long film, this is when filming a series for example How I Met Your Mother, Seinfeld, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Saturday Night Live.

Advantages and disadvantages of a single camera  

 There are serval advantages by using a single camera, one example of a  single camera is that the camera is less expensive therefore by using a single camera  the direct can spend more money on the film such as locations, props and equipment. Another advantages of used a single camera is easily to gather all the shots on one camera, due to this they will be no difficulties with missing tapes of the film and the director will not be worrying about the different shot the director took. By this the director will know that they have all the tapes store in one camera. Another advantages of using a single camera is that it is effortlessly to carry around on the go to different location.

On the other hand there are some downfalls when using a single camera one of the cons of using a single camera is that you keep on moving and setting it up when shooting a different scene or angles, according to this it will cause less time to shoot and making sure you will have the perfect shot. This can be one of the major downfall when using a single camera. Another disadvantages when using a single camera is that if the camera is damage or stop working all your is displayed on it and you have no backup camera then you will struggle. Therefore you will waste a lot of film time and it would not be up to sanders.

Advantages and disadvantages of multi-camera

There are plenty of advantages of using multi-camera; one example is that you have more than one camera that the director can shoot easily whereas single camera cannot do not. This will spend more time on the number scene in the amount of time. Another benefit is that you can captured all angle of the characters whether the emotion to their body language. Also it makes it smoother for to jump to one scene to another. Added advantages is that is much fast to make a film.

However there are some disadvantages while using multi-camera; one example is that more expensive therefore you paying for 3-5 camera and they are not cheap. Another weakness of using multi-camera is taking longer to set due to the equipment. Extra disadvantage is that you upload all different scene from multiple camera on a desktop which takes longer whereas single camera it all there for you.  

Different format

A series are episodes that are leading to the actual plot of the story for example skin a series because it shows different characters that have different storylines and by this will have different episodes that they going to focus on also this will lead up to final plot of each season of episode. 

Serials

Another format is a Serials which tells a story through many episodes. They are usually science fiction story,  for example the flash it tells one story through one character and in different episode it build up the story about wanting to save her mother. By this serials allows the audience to figure out the plot through watching different episodes.    

Single-Drama

Another format is a single drama which is broadcast around the world, a single drama involves real life stories.  It is often based on topics or issues that are more appropriate for television than in contrast to cinema based. For example drama is ‘My Murder’ which is based on true events. A single drama only last around 1 hour or 1 hour an half.

Narrative structure

Linear Narrative

Linear narrative is when you follow a straight line starting from beginning right through to end. A linear narrative are really simple and easy to follow. For example ‘UP’ simple story that anyone can follow ‘UP’ starts up with simple beginning and a simple ending. A linear narrative usually attractive younger generation because is easy to understand.

Episodic Narrative

Episodic narrative is a story that is told through a series of episode for example ‘Misfits’ is a story that tells through episodes and every episode it will have a recap what happen in the last episode this will happen at the beginning of each episode, another example is ‘Hollyoaks. ’ by this will give a rough idea what happen in the last episode and will understand what the next episode is going to be about.

Open Narrative

Open narrative is when they have many characters involve and as no sense of ending. This use in sops such ‘EastEnders, How I Met your Mother and Hollyoaks’ this are soaps that does not have an ending, due to this the story builds up when progressing further into the film. This makes I more interesting to watch.   

Close narrative

Close narrative is usually films that have reading and usually last 2 hours it has all the characters and main points and ending. For example comedy, thriller such as ‘About Time.’ By this it would keep the audience more interesting and knowing the plot of story and film.

Realist and Anti-realist Narrative

Realist narrative is a story that shows real life situation that people have to face on daily base. For example ‘Mulholland Drive (2001)’ this films tells a real life situation. By this kind of narrative it would make the audience more engage because they can relate to that situation. Anti-realist narrative is not real life standards they are films/programs which base on dreams or not real life. Anti- realistic narrative use special affect such as the film ‘Fantastic Four’ the purpose of is to attractive more audience and it for audience that like to think outside the box.

Multi-Stranded

 Multi-stranded is when different works are made up of serval different stander which involves different character which all have their own story line. For example the film ‘Actually love’ or the program ‘Skin’ this when the focus on one character in each episode which leads up to the plot. This makes the audience more interesting because in each episode the find out more about the character and the plot.